Henry J. Eyring becomes President of BYU-Idaho

Eyring has worked at BYU-Idaho since 2006 as an associate academic vice president over Online Learning, advancement vice president, and academic vice president.

April 10, 2017Writer: Brett Crandall

On April 10 Henry Johnson Eyring assumed the duties and responsibilities as President of Brigham Young University-Idaho.

Henry J. Eyring was announced as the new president of BYU-Idaho on February 7 by Elder Dallin H. Oaks, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Church Board of Education. He replaces Clark G. Gilbert, who will lead the newly created BYU-Pathway Worldwide, which will administer online programs for the Church Educational System.

Eyring has worked at BYU-Idaho since 2006 as an associate academic vice president over Online Learning, advancement vice president, and academic vice president. At a news conference on February 9, Eyring shared his love for Rexburg and feelings about working in this new capacity.

"It will be a matter of a steady, upward course," Eyring said. "As important as it will be to keep unchanged the things that have been so well established, it will be equally important to meet the change that inevitably is coming at the institution and its students."

For Eyring, BYU-Idaho has always been a special place. His father, President Henry B. Eyring, who serves as First Counselor in the First Presidency for the Church, served as president of BYU-Idaho from 1971-1977. During the news conference, Eyring recalled some of his memories as a child in Rexburg.

"This place is unchanged in its spirit, its mission, and its commitment to serving students," Eyring said.

Previous to his work at BYU-Idaho, Eyring worked as a strategy consultant at Monitor Company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and as MBA Director at BYU in Provo.

Eyring has served in various callings in the Church, including as a full-time missionary in the Japan Nagoya Mission, bishop, president of the Tokyo Japan North Mission, and president of the Rexburg Idaho YSA 6th Stake.

Eyring earned a bachelor's degree in Geology, a Master of Business Administration, and a Juris Doctorate from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

While attending BYU, he married his high school sweetheart, Kelly Ann Child. They are the parents of five children, and they currently have two grandchildren. The three oldest are all BYU-Idaho graduates, while the two youngest still live at home.